The Eagle Point Resort fire has torn through the heart of a Utah ski community that has operated since the 1970s, destroying the resort’s Lower Lodge and several adjacent condominiums. The Cottonwood Fire, which erupted near Beaver on Monday afternoon, has since ballooned to nearly 60,000 acres with no sign of containment.
The Cottonwood Fire broke out at approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday near Mile Marker 5 on State Route 153, east of Beaver, and consumed roughly 10,000 acres in its first seven hours. By Tuesday night, it had tripled again, crossing the 31,000-acre mark. As of Wednesday morning, officials placed the fire at an estimated 59,613 acres — still zero percent contained.
Eagle Point Resort Fire Destroys Lower Lodge and Condominiums
Eagle Point Resort sits in the Tushar Mountains and has operated as a ski destination since the 1970s. The resort has two base areas: Canyonside on the lower mountain, where the fire inflicted confirmed structural damage, while evacuation orders have prevented any assessment of the upper mountain.
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Resort Owner and Ski Utah Respond to the Devastation
Resort owner Shane Gadbaw said in a press release, “We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and bravery of the men and women on the front lines of this emergency,” Gadbaw said. “Their efforts are making a tremendous difference, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the fire.”
Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah, said in a press release issued by Eagle Point Resort: “An independent mountain and genuine community pillar, Eagle Point is a source of recreation, livelihoods, and local identity for the region it calls home. The impact of this fire will be felt across Beaver County and throughout the Utah ski industry.”
Cottonwood Fire Now 60,000 Acres With Zero Containment
Investigators have determined the fire was human-caused, though the precise origin remains under investigation. A Great Basin Incident Management Team assumed command Wednesday at 6 a.m. The Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized federal funds to support suppression efforts. More than 300 homes face threat from the fire, along with utilities and infrastructure across Beaver and Piute counties.
Mandatory evacuation orders remain active for Eagle Point, Merchant Valley, HiLo Estates, and Arrowhead Summer Homes. State Route 153 is shut in both directions between Mile Markers 2 and 25, along with a sweeping network of forest roads and trails across Fishlake National Forest, under a closure order effective from noon on Wednesday. Rocky Mountain Power has de-energized all power lines in the area in an effort to slow the fire’s advance.
Eagle Point Resort Fire Pushes Utah’s 2026 Season Past 105,000 Acres
The Cottonwood Fire has accelerated what was already a severe statewide fire season. More than 105,000 acres have burned across Utah in 2026, a figure that surpassed the 100,000-acre threshold this week. Seven weeks ago, the state’s cumulative burn total stood at just 13,300 acres. The 2026 season has now consumed nearly two-thirds of the acreage Utah lost across all of 2025, itself the state’s worst fire year in five years.
Weekend Fire Weather Watch Threatens Further Spread
Weather may offer some relief, though conditions remain complicated. Storm activity on Wednesday has the potential to deliver rainfall over the fire zone, which firefighters badly need. But the same system is expected to generate lightning and erratic winds. The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for the majority of Utah from Friday afternoon through Saturday evening. A cold front is forecast to push sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph through the region, with gusts that could reach 50 mph. Officials warn that any existing fires, including the Cottonwood, could spread rapidly under those conditions.
Guests holding Eagle Point lodging reservations can contact the resort at info@skieaglepoint.com to discuss cancellation or rebooking options.
This is a developing story. SnowBrains will continue to update as conditions change.
Cottonwood Fire Update, June 24, 2026:
Acres: 59,613
Containment: 0%
Current Situation: Great Basin Team 5 assumed control of the fire today at 6 a.m. Yesterday, extreme fire behavior was fueled by drought conditions, high temperatures, and low fuel moisture. Last night, dozers and hand crews created a fire line in the City Creek area.
Crews on the east side will engage in structure protection today, as well as fire line construction where they can. On the west side of the fire, firefighters worked around the backside of the fire to build a fire line, which they will use as an anchor to build a continuous line from. Today, firefighters will continue establishing fire line and engage in structure protection. Crews will be working day shifts and night shifts, establishing 24- hour fire coverage.
Crews from Rocky Mountain Power are working to clear downed power lines from Highway 153 and will be brushing around power lines ahead of the fire on the east side. Several aircraft have been assigned to the incident and will be utilized across the fire. A structure assessment team is being established to assist the county with structure inventories.
Community Meetings: Great Basin Team 5 and local agency representatives will hold a community meeting for residents to provide an overview of the fire and to answer questions. The meeting will be held tentatively on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The location is yet to be determined. Please check the Fishlake National Forest’s or Utah Fire Info’s Facebook for updates.
Weather and Fire Behavior: The weather outlook over the next several days is expected to be dry with daytime high temperatures in the low 80’s and nighttime lows in the low 60’s. Humidity is expected to be slightly higher today as rain may be possible in the morning, turning to thunderstorms in the afternoon. Winds will be from the southeast at 6 to 11 mph and may influence fire spread.
Fire activity slowed during the night; however, the fire still made active progress outward to the northeast and east. Fire activity may be slightly lower today with any increase in humidity, but the fire behavior is expected to remain heightened.
Smoke: Air quality may be slightly better today as storms move smoke out of the area. Air Resource Advisors have been ordered and will be able to give more accurate air quality information when they arrive.
Evacuations and Closures: Fishlake National Forest closures are in effect; see the Fishlake National Forest’s Facebook here. For current evacuation information, see here for Piute County and here for Beaver County. State Highway 153 is closed in both directions.
